Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1887-04-02
OLD TIME SUGAR RAISING.


How it Was Conducted on the Bore
Plantation Nearly Seventy Years Ago.
This plantation was sagaciously and
tastefhly laid out for beauty and pro-
dnctiveness. The gardens occupied u
large area, and at once astonished the
eye by the magnifcence Of their shady
avenues of orange trees. Unbroken re-
treats of myrtle and laurel defied the
rays Of the sun. Flowers of every de-
scription perfumed the air. Extensive
orchards produced every fruit of which
the climate was susceptible. By judicious
culture there had been obtained remark
able success in producing an abundance
of juicy grapes, every bunch Of which,
however, when they began to ripen, was
enveloped in sack of wire to protect
them against the depredations of birds.
The fields were cultivated with such q
careful Observance of the variable ext
gencies Of every successive season that
there was no such thing known as a
short or half crop, or no crop at all.
This was reserved for much later days.
But under the administration Of Etienne
de Bore, during period Of twenty-five
years, from the first ebullition Of sugar
kettle in 1895 to the time of his death in
1920. every crop was regularly the same
within few hogsheads. When, how
ever, he ceased to exist this seat OF order
and prosperity became O chaos of dis
order and ruin, and the estate finally
passed away from the family into the
hands of strangers.
1t was a self-sufficient little domain,
exporting good deal, and importing but
meagerly, 30 that the balance was very
much in its favor. It was largely sup
piled with sheep and their wool, with
geese, ducks, turkeys, guinea fowls and
every variety of poultry without stint.
Eggs were gathered by the bushel. Pig
cons clouded the sun, and when the small
black cherries (call merises in French)
were ripe, those feathered epicures ate
them voraciously, got royalty drunk and
falling from the trees strewed the ground
beneath. A numerous herd of cattle,
under the inspection of old Pompey, and
a black youngster called Souris Gin
English mousse, on account Of his d.
minutive figure, pastured luxuriously
and grew fat, What quantity Of
fresh butter, rich cheese, milk, cream
and clabberl Vast barns gorged with
corn, rice and hay; hives bursting with
honey; vegetables without measure, and
30 luscious; varied and liberal supply of
carriages always ready for use, and horses
for the saddle or for driving, all glossy
and sleek; spirited mules. well fed and
well curried-the pride of the field hands;
shrimps and fish from the river; multi
tudes Of crawfish from the deep bitches;
raccoons and oppossums to gladden the
heart Of the most surly negro. Bore had
made of his estate both farm and a
plantation. Every day before dawn
carloads departed for New Orleans with
diversified produce, most Of which was
handed over when II reached lie destina-
ton to two old women, Agathe and
Marie, who were the occupants and guard
ians of the town house of Bore. They
admirably understood the art Of selling,
and were well known to the whole popu-
lation. whose confidence they possessed.
Going to market with baskets full,
they generally brought them back
empty. Josephine, handsome, strong
imbed and light footed muiatto,
with another female assistant Of a
darker color, sold the milk and
butter with wonderful rapidity, and both
were back at the plantation at 1890
a. M, with the mail, the daily papers
and whatever else they had to bring. II
was clockwork in everything on that
plantation Of the old regime. Hence the
farm produced at least Sc, 900 per annum,
besides supplying an the wants Of those
who resided on it, black OF white, and